The 18-Piece Capsule Wardrobe a Travel Editor Packs for a Summer Hiking Trip

The stakes are high when packing for a hiking trip: Temperatures wildly fluctuate in national parks, and it can be hard to buy supplies if you forget to bring essentials like a fleece, bear spray, or thermal hiking socks. I learned this lesson the hard way during a recent trip to Yellowstone National Park and Grand Teton National Park. The hot daytime forecast was misleading, full-day hikes called for lots of pre-packed food and drink supplies, and bug spray was a must.

Back from my five-day hiking trip, I've re-edited my packing list to include the items I repeatedly used and the products I wish I'd remembered to pack. Given the diverse landscape—Yellowstone and Grand Teton activities span boiling hot geysers, high-altitude hikes, and white water rafting—you'll be tempted to overpack, but it's possible to travel with just a weekender bag. Here's the 18-piece capsule wardrobe to follow for a stress-free summer hiking trip.